Kin vandalize Odisha hospital over patient’s death

Situation remains tense at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Odisha’s Burla as the relatives of a patient ransacked the casualty ward of the government-run hospital late last night following his death.

The patient, identified as Himanshu of Atachakipada, was admitted to the surgery ward of the hospital on October 22 following complaints of pain in his chest. He was discharged yesterday.

However, relatives brought him back to the hospital once again later yesterday after he complained of pain, barely hours after he was discharged from the hospital.

“The doctors discharged him even before the disease was cured. That is why we had to bring him back to the hospital again. His condition was serious and I repeatedly called the doctors to attend to him. However, they left him unattended and asked me to get the doctors from the surgery ward. The patient died while I kept running here and there to get a doctor,” complained a relative of the deceased.

While the kin alleged medical negligence, the doctors on duty refuted the charge and claimed that the patient was dead on arrival. Besides, the PG students of the medical college have demanded arrest of those involved in vandalism and have threatened to stop emergency service at the casualty in case their demands are not met.

“We tried to treat him after he was brought to casualty, but he was already dead by then. The patient was dead on arrival,” said Dr Arbinda Dash.

Both parties have filed complaints against the other at local police station and cops have been deployed at the hospital premises to keep a vigil on any development.

“Police were alerted after the kin of the patient started ransacking the hospital. The PG students, who treat the patients at the casualty, were also there. Police and the hospital superintendent spoke to both parties and the situation is under control now. We have deployed force to keep a tab over the situation,” said Abakash Routray, SDPO of Sambalpur.

“Both the PG students and the relatives of the patient have lodged complaints against each other at the police station. We are investigating the matter and action would be taken based on the findings,” he added.